Smokinlicious® Smoking Wood Tips

Our outdoor kitchen guest blog is authored by Mike Cahil

Mike is part of the Content Marketing team and enjoys applying market insights to provide valuable content on all things real estate. Mike’s dream home would be mid-century modern style near the water.

As days get warmer and summer approaches we’re all looking for more ways to spend time outside. Whether it be biking, running, hiking, or walking we can all agree that being outside is one of the best ways to spend time during the summer. So why not cook outside too? Having an inviting outdoor space that can double as a beautiful kitchen is a great way to be outside and create memories to be cherished for years to come. For that, we reached out to the experts from Yolo to Palm City to provide our readers with a few tips for creating the Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen.

Make it your own Outdoor Kitchen

The trend of outdoor design is experiencing a dramatic shift today. Landscape designers are moving away from traditional masonry-built structures to waterproof cabinets equipped with storage, trash receptacles and even vegetable and herb potting areas providing a whole new experience. Moya Living and Urban Bonfire offer two creative and functional products that bring color and extreme functionality into the design and provide the structure with every ability to create the perfect outdoor kitchen. Whether the homeowner desires a smoker from Kalamazoo, a pizza oven from Lynx, or Versa Powder Cooker from Alfresco, the options are endless in the design creation. Outdoor kitchen design now takes front and center focus when planning a remodeled home and now is simply an extension from the indoor to the outdoor so that every space of the home is utilized. – Annette Reeves

Find a proper grill

The focus of any outdoor kitchen is the grill. At Chicago Outdoor Living we believe a grill’s value shouldn’t be based solely on price. Features such as design, quality of materials, and functionality, combined with price, play an important role in choosing the grill that is right for you. It is also important to be aware of the manufacturer’s warranty. Chicago Outdoor Living carries a variety of high-quality grills to fit everyone’s grilling needs and budget – Chicago Outdoor Living

Our Authors image of cooking burgers

Choose complimentary finishes

Leather finish granite countertops are my go-to countertop surface for outdoor kitchens. It looks matte enough to feel like it belongs outdoors but is cleanable and ages well. – Attainable Form

Utilize misting systems

During sweltering summer days that are hot enough to have you fantasizing about moving to Antarctica, it can be difficult to enjoy your outdoor kitchen while you are feeling sweaty and scorched. With our misting systems that cool the air by up to 30 degrees without getting anyone drenched, you’ll be able to elevate your lifestyle and enjoy your outdoor kitchen in comfort all you want. – Advanced Misting Systems

Incorporate patio heaters

Enjoying your outdoor kitchen can be extremely difficult during winter days that are so cold it feels like you could chip a tooth from shivering. With our outdoor patio heaters that emit radiant heat to keep an area warm, you’ll have your own patio encased in a bubble of warmth, allowing you to enjoy your patio and outdoor kitchen while the neighbors are stuck indoors. – Gas Outdoor Patio Heaters

Storage is key in your Outdoor Kitchen

You can never have enough storage outside. The key is drawers: paper plates, utensils, corn on the cob holders, grill grates…. Keep them at your fingertips and you will be much happier. Drawer cabinets have to be fully enclosed to avoid creatures from crawling in for a vacation. – Cowgirl Q

If you love wood-fired flavors to foods cooked outdoors then be sure to consider wood storage when designing your outdoor kitchen. Pizza ovens, ceramic or clay ovens/smokers, traditional smokers and gas/hybrid grills all allow for the addition of charcoal, charwood, and/or hardwood to bring flavor essence to favorite cuts of protein, vegetables and fruit. Include in your design wood storage that allows for good air circulation to the wood as well as storage placed close to the equipment. Mesh bins or small wood crates work well for smaller pieces of wood that can fit on shelving under the counter or design open shelving in metal, stucco or concrete material that allow larger pieces of wood to remain dry, nonreactive and at the ready. – Smokinlicious

Don’t forget about the island

The best way to start creating your own Ultimate outdoor Kitchen is by getting ideas of different types of islands and kitchens. Researching will help you brainstorm an idea of your own (shape, size, color, components, etc). The next step is to find out where your Island will be placed. After finding a perfect fit, take a few measurements to see how the unit will be laid out. Over the years, KoKoMo has created various Outdoor Kitchen models with all kinds of different designs. A good example is our custom sports bar. This unit is fully stocked with all of our most popular components and accessories. This kitchen has a beautiful white-looking stone that covers the base, with a nice steel-looking tile to go with it. We used a large 15×15 aluminum shade cover with two giant TVs to entertain both sides of the island. – KoKoMo Grills

Keep it comfortable

Outdoor kitchens draw people in, whether it’s your guests gathering to offer help or little ones looking for a snack before the big meal. Make everyone comfortable with our thick, high-density cushions. Bonus tip: all our cushions are covered in water-resistant fabric, making rain and spills the least of your worries. And at the end of the party, if you need a special type of cover for your furniture or grill, we’ve got you covered with custom-made covers! – Classic Accessories

Get a personalized rub kit

Whether you’re grilling or smoking, when you’re cooking outdoors, having your own personalized “rub kit” at the ready is critical. A rub kit should include staples like lemon pepper, garlic pepper, and all-purpose seasoning salt. Round out your kit with your favorite rubs for the big four – beef, chicken, pork and seafood. – Savory Spice Shop

We love this image from the author!

Consult with a pro for the Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen

For homeowners who want to build a fully functional outdoor kitchen area in their homes, I always recommend consulting with a designer, in addition to the outdoor kitchen company themselves. One thing I have learned with my experience in the business, is one layout for a kitchen does not necessarily work for every future buyer of the home — so the key is: versatility and simplicity. Most buyers these days are not so focused on decking, they want to see more grass. So artificial grass is a great alternative to decking, plus easy to maintain. Keep your dining area separate, and not built-in, should someone in the future want to change it, or if you entertain and need a different layout for a specific event. – Jenny Okhovat Homes

Originally published on Redfin

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Dr. Smoke- has an Outdoor Kitchen for grilling, smoking and entertainment, follow these great tips from our guest blogger!

Preparing for Entertaining by Isac Atia is a great checklist to follow

This guest post PREPARING FOR ENTERTAINING

PREPARING FOR ENTERTAINING

by Isaac Atia, Founder of 10BestRanked.com, an authority blog where he reviews top home, kitchen, and outdoors products.

(Read his latest post about the best kitchen faucets here)

PREPARING FOR ENTERTAINING:

Getting Your Kitchen Ready for Entertaining Guests

The beginning of the holiday season means that you need to change a few things on your domestic routine, especially if you are hosting guests. If you are expecting some guests this season, you need to clean several areas in your kitchen thoroughly. Come to think of it, much of the holiday festivities center on food. As such, you need to ensure that your kitchen is ready for guests.

In addition to stocking enough supplies in the kitchen, you should also ensure that the kitchen is clean. So, how do you go about preparing the kitchen for entertaining your guests? Discussed below are some of the tips you may use to ensure that the kitchen is ready for your guests.

Clean Up and De-clutter

First and foremost, you need to ensure that all the surfaces and countertops in the kitchen are clean. Again, a little more space may be what you need in the kitchen right now. This being the case, you should consider getting rid of all the clutter lying around, especially on the countertops. You can begin by getting rid of the items that really don’t belong in a kitchen, such as bills and mail lying on the countertop. Removing some items that do not need to be in the cupboards can also free up some needed space.

Now that you have decluttered the surfaces, you should clean them and ensure that the counters, backsplash, as well as the floor are all sparkling clean.

Prepare the Microwave and Oven

These are some of the commonly forgotten appliances when cleaning the kitchen. It can be very embarrassing for a guest to offer to assist you in the kitchen only to find these appliances gross and dirty. Therefore, you should take time to clean both the inside and the outside of these appliances thoroughly as well.

While cleaning the oven, do not run the self-clean cycle. This is not advisable when you are expecting guests in your home. This cycle causes the oven to overwork, which may cause it to malfunction when you need it. Rather than running the self-clean cycle, you should use a wet rag to wipe the top of its burner clean.

Disinfect Your Trash Cans

However careful you are with trash cans in your kitchen, some dirt and gunk will still collect at its bottom. If you are preparing for some guests this holiday, you should ensure that the trash cans in your kitchen are clean and disinfected. As such, you need to take them out and clean them using dish soap and water. You may use a garden horse to rinse them clean. You should then use a cleaning spray to disinfect them. Again, you should also ensure that you have enough trash bags.

Stock Up the Staples

From where you’re standing, the pantry and spice rack in your kitchen may seem to be alright. However, you should check to see if they have all you need. In addition to stocking enough spices, you should also ensure that you have enough dish soap/detergent, aluminum foil, paper towels, plastic wrap and containers for leftovers. If you do not have the time to go out, you may buy these items online and have them delivered to your door step.

Prepare the Serve Ware

Are the knives in the kitchen ready for the task? You do not want them to hack away at the honey-baked ham when the guests are already there. As such, you should take time to have the knives sharpened. Again, you also need to take inventory of the basic supplies you will be using to serve food to your guests. This way, you can easily identify what your missing and buy it before the guests arrive.

Additionally, you should take time to go through your cookware, utensils, and cooking oils, serve ware and canned goods just to make sure that there is enough. As for the serve ware, they also need to be cleaned. As such, you need to clean the serving plate and polish the silver ones. You should also wash and iron the cloth napkins in preparation for your guests.

Preparing for guests can be a daunting task, especially if you don”t know how to go about it. As you already know, the kitchen is one of the places you will be using a lot when the guests are around. It helps to ensure that the kitchen is ready and well equipped for the task that lies ahead. The tips mentioned above will help you prepare your kitchen for entertaining guests. Hope you enjoy this guest blog PREPARING FOR ENTERTAINING!

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I hope you enjoyed this guest blog by Mr. Atia. We felt his article has great advice!